Thoracic spinal fusion is a surgical procedure involving the placement of screws and rods to stabilize the spine. This surgery is typically necessary when the spine is unstable due to injury, requires correction due to a deformity, or is a response to chronic pain. The process involves removing part or all of the lamina bone, which covers the back of the spinal column.
In children over nine years old, spinal column injuries often occur in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral (TLS) regions, as opposed to the cervical spine seen in very young children. Thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine injuries happen at a rate comparable to cervical spine fractures, accounting for 2-5 percent of blunt trauma injuries.
A herniated disc, stemming from the term “hernia,” refers to a part of the body bulging out through an abnormal opening. In the context of the spine, the disc is the disk-shaped cushion located between the bones of the spine. The vertebral column, also known as the spinal column or backbone, comprises 33 bones called vertebrae. Each vertebra is separated by these discs.
A common procedure to address spinal issues is the thoracic laminectomy. This surgery gives neurosurgeons access to the spinal canal, relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. When performed in the thoracic spine (upper and mid-back), it’s known as a thoracic laminectomy. Learn More About Laminectomy in the Neck, Cervical Laminectomy.
Thoracic corpectomy is another procedure, which involves removing damaged vertebrae and intervertebral discs in the thoracic spine. It’s usually performed for patients with trauma, tumor, infection, or degenerative disease in the thoracic spine. Thoracic Corpectomy.
For instance, a herniated T9-10 disk case involved a 45-year-old man experiencing pain radiating around his abdomen and down his legs, along with weakness in the quadriceps and very brisk knee reflexes. The diagnosis was confirmed through an MRI scan of the thoracic spine. Herniated T9-10 Disk.
In the case of a thoracic laminectomy, the lamina portion of vertebrae is removed to access and remove tumors, thereby eliminating pressure on the spinal cord. Post-surgery, instrumentation may be added for additional stabilization. View Thoracic Laminectomy Animation.
At the Spine Hospital at the Neurological Institute of New York, specialists focus on pathologic fractures of vertebrae, which can occur due to significant trauma or diseases that weaken the bones of the spine. Pathologic Fracture.
Compression fractures, where part of a vertebra collapses under strong pressure, also fall under spinal issues. The vertebral arch, a ring-shaped section forming the roof of the spinal canal, plays a crucial role in protecting the spinal cord. Compression Fracture.
For more detailed information on thoracic spinal fusion and related procedures, refer to the following resources: Thoracic Spinal Fusion and Thoracic, Lumbar, and Sacral Spine Injuries.
